Francisco Arce is a celebrated Paraguayan football player and manager known for his impactful career in both roles.
Arce made his professional debut at just fifteen years old for 15 de Mayo before joining Cerro Porteño, where he won three national championships.
After retiring, Arce became a successful coach, leading Club Rubio Ñú to a second division championship in 2008.
Biography
Early Life
Francisco Javier "Chiqui" Arce Rolón was born in Paraguay, where he began his football journey at a young age. He made his professional debut at just fifteen years old for his hometown club, 15 de Mayo. His talent quickly caught the attention of Cerro Porteño, one of Paraguay's most prestigious clubs, where he joined and won three national championships between 1989 and 1994.
Playing Career
Arce's playing career took him beyond Paraguay, as he made significant contributions to clubs in Brazil, including Grêmio and Palmeiras. During his time at Grêmio, he won the Copa Libertadores in 1995 and continued to achieve success with Palmeiras, winning multiple titles including the Brazilian Cup and the Copa Libertadores again in 1999. On the international stage, Arce represented Paraguay in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, earning 61 caps and becoming known for his exceptional free kick technique, notably scoring against South Africa in 2002.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Arce transitioned into coaching, starting with Club Rubio Ñú, where he led the team to a second division championship in 2008. He later managed the Paraguay national team but faced challenges during the 2014 World Cup qualification. His coaching career flourished at Cerro Porteño, where he won the Torneo Clausura in 2013 without losing a match. Arce also had a stint with Club Olimpia, the arch-rivals of Cerro Porteño, and continued to coach various clubs, including General Díaz in 2018.
Legacy
Arce's legacy in football is marked by his achievements both as a player and a coach. He is celebrated for his contributions to Paraguayan football, having won numerous titles and being recognized in the South American Team of the Year multiple times throughout his career. His impact on the game continues to inspire future generations of players and coaches in Paraguay.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Career & Clubs
Arce started his career in Paraguay playing for his natal city club, 15 de Mayo, where he made his professional debut at the age of fifteen. The same year he was recruited by the Cerro Porteño club in the Paraguayan capital (Asuncion), where he won three national championships. Arce then played for Brazilian clubs Grêmio and Palmeiras and won international tournaments including the Copa Libertadores. Arce played for Paraguay in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups and has appeared 61 times for his country. He was famous for his free kick shot technique, where he scored goals during the 2002 FIFA World Cup including a free kick against South Africa.
After retiring as a player, Arce became a coach and managed the Paraguayan second division team Club Rubio Ñú, leading the squad to the 2nd division championship in 2008. Arce was appointed coach of the Paraguay national football team in July 2011, but due to poor results on the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, he was sacked in June 2012. In March 2013, Arce was appointed coach of the Paraguayan Cerro Porteño. He won the Torneo Clausura in 2013 with Cerro Porteño in highly impressive form, as the club went the entire Clausura undefeated. After a 4–1 defeat to Club Guaraní on 24 August 2014 Arce left Cerro Porteño. On 15 March 2015, Arce was appointed manager of Olimpia, the arch-rivals of his old club Cerro Porteño. A year later he coached the Guarani club with good results, leading to his position at the Paraguay national team. In 2018, he was appointed as manager of General Díaz.
Club
Source:
International
Source:
International goals for Paraguay
Score and results list Paraguay's goal tally first.
- Club
- Cerro Porteño (1989–1994)
- Club
- Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras (1998–2002)
- Club
- Grêmio FBPA (1994–1998)
- Club
- Gamba Osaka (2003–2003)
- Club
- Club Libertad (2004–2005)
- Club
- Club 12 de Octubre (2006–2006)
- Club
- Paraguay Olympic football team (1992–1992)
- Club
- Paraguay men's national football team (1995–2004)
- National team
- Paraguay
Legacy
As a player
Cerro Porteño
Liga Paraguaya: 1991, 1992, 1994 Grêmio
Copa Libertadores: 1995 Recopa Sudamericana: 1996 Rio Grande do Sul State Championship: 1995, 1996 Brazilian Série A: 1996 Brazilian Cup: 1997 Intercontinental Cup runner-up: 1995 Palmeiras
Brazilian Cup: 1998 Mercosur Cup: 1998 Copa Libertadores: 1999 Brazilian Champions Cup: 2000 Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 2000 Intercontinental Cup runner-up: 1999 Individual
South American Team of the Year:1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
As a coach
Rubio Ñú
Paraguayan 2nd division: 2008 Cerro Porteño
Paraguayan 1st division: 2013 (undefeated), 2020, 2021 Club Olimpia|Olimpia
Paraguayan 1st division: 2015
Clubs
- Cerro Porteño1989–1994
- Paraguay Olympic football team1992–1992
- Grêmio FBPA1994–1998
- Paraguay men's national football team1995–2004
- Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras1998–2002
- Gamba Osaka2003–2003
- Club Libertad2004–2005
- Club 12 de Octubre2006–2006
Played together with
- Adalto Batista da SilvaSociedade Esportiva Palmeiras · 2002–2004
Ademilson Braga Bispo JuniorGamba Osaka · 2016
Ademir da GuiaSociedade Esportiva Palmeiras · 1962–1977
Adi RochaGamba Osaka · 2013–2013
Adilson BatistaGrêmio FBPA · 1994–1996
Adriano Ferreira MartinsGamba Osaka · 2011–2011- Adriano Pereira da SilvaGrêmio FBPA · 2001–2004
Adílson WarkenGrêmio FBPA · 2007–2011- Agostinho Fortes FilhoSociedade Esportiva Palmeiras · 1919–1923
Akhrik TsveibaGamba Osaka · 1994–1996
Akihiro IenagaGamba Osaka · 2004–2010- Akihiro IenagaGamba Osaka · 2012–2013
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Francisco Javier "Chiqui" Arce Rolón is a Paraguayan football manager and former player.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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